Recommended Reading: October 2007
Last week I found myself in the unusual position of having nothing to read. That almost NEVER happens. I always have a few stacked up on my nightstand, just waiting to be read before some little hands hide it underneath the bed. So, as I was at Target it occurred to me that I ought to pick something up to fill in the gap between then and today when the new book is announced (because I'm rigid like that, even though I KNOW what the next book is, and even HAVE it on my nightstand, I didn't start it...because it was September, and those are the rules). Out of desperation, I picked up the first book I saw which was ANOTHER MEMOIR, breaking the self-imposed memoir ban instituted after the 2006-2007 book club season. It was at that moment, right there in the checkout lane, that I decided what I really needed was a handy, fit-in-my-pocket guide to books I should read.
But suddenly I can't remember anything I want to read and my list is empty. The only thing I currently have on my B&N wish list is The Emperor's Children, which I've read about twice now but can't decide if I'll like it (side note: have you read this? if so, is it a good one?). This is where you come in - I need you. Tell me what I should be reading now. I know that many of you have been busy lately and haven't been doing a lot of reading, but I know you and you're all readers. The kind of readers who are willing to trade in sleep for late hours with a book that cannot be put down. The kind of readers who love good characters and beautiful sentences and word combinations that roll off the tongue.
So this month, tell me what you'd recommend that I read next. It doesn't have to be something you've read recently, but something you really loved. Of course, you can always add a review of something you've read this month as well. It's our book club after all, and our rules are nothing if not loose (except for that not starting early rule described above).
Please be sure to add the title, author's name, and a brief description of the book, your thoughts and comments.
But suddenly I can't remember anything I want to read and my list is empty. The only thing I currently have on my B&N wish list is The Emperor's Children, which I've read about twice now but can't decide if I'll like it (side note: have you read this? if so, is it a good one?). This is where you come in - I need you. Tell me what I should be reading now. I know that many of you have been busy lately and haven't been doing a lot of reading, but I know you and you're all readers. The kind of readers who are willing to trade in sleep for late hours with a book that cannot be put down. The kind of readers who love good characters and beautiful sentences and word combinations that roll off the tongue.
So this month, tell me what you'd recommend that I read next. It doesn't have to be something you've read recently, but something you really loved. Of course, you can always add a review of something you've read this month as well. It's our book club after all, and our rules are nothing if not loose (except for that not starting early rule described above).
Please be sure to add the title, author's name, and a brief description of the book, your thoughts and comments.
"The Moonflower Vine" by Jetta Carleton.
I read it last month after reading an article about Brian Melendez, the chair of the Minnesota Democratic Party. Brian reads a book a week and this is what he said of the Moonflower Vine:
“I have reread this book probably more often than any other book in my adult life. The story unfolds in rural Missouri over the first two-thirds of the 20th century, but its themes and its allure are timeless: family, faith, rebellion, secrets, love, independence, and time ... I never put it down without a catch in my throat.”
That was good enough for me coming from someone who has read so many book. When I went to order it I found that it is out of print. I had to order a used version from Amazon. That just added to the attraction becuase my copy has nicely yellowed pages and a little stamp from a public library in Montana where it used to circulate.
I really enjoyed it. It is easy to read and yet makes you think about "big things." If you feel like going to the trouble of buying an out-of-print book, this one is worth it.
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